`1,96,462 crore

framework for India-US engagement. Today, the India-U.S. bilateral cooperation is broad-based and multisectoral, covering trade and investment, defence and security, education, science and technology, cyber security, high-technology, civil nuclear energy, space technology and applications, clean energy, environment, agriculture and health. Vibrant people-topeople interaction and support across the political spectrum in both countries nurture our bilateral relationship.

United Nations: India has said that the tendency to categorise terrorism on the basis of motivations behind terrorist acts is “dangerous” and asserted that all kinds of terror attacks, whether motivated by Islamophobia, anti-Sikh, anti-Buddhist or anti-Hindu prejudices, are condemnable. Underlining that there cannot be good or bad terrorists, India said such an approach “will only take us back to the pre-9/11 era of labelling terrorists as ‘Your Terrorists’ and ‘My Terrorists’ & erase collective gains the international community has made over the last 2 decades.

INDIA-PAK: TO RESOLVE DISPUTE, WE SUPPORT CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE, SAYS US

Washington: The United States supports a constructive dialogue and meaningful conversation between India and Pakistan, the Biden administration said reiterating that it’s for New Delhi and Islamabad to decide on the nature of that dialogue. The US is ready to play its role if they agree, it added. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, in response to a question, refused any meditating role for the US for talks between India and Pakistan. “Because these are decisions for the countries themselves,” Price said.

Budget with focus on education, health and agriculture sectors

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh

Cheema presented a ` 1.96-lakh-crore state budget for 2023-24 in the assembly here on Friday with a focus on agriculture, education and health segments.

Speaking in the Assembly, Harpal Cheema said education, health, and agriculture are among the priority sectors for the government.

Total budget size has been increased by 26 per cent to `1,96,462 crore for 2023-24 over the previous year, the state finance minister said. It is the first full budget of the AAP government.

Highlights Of The Budget

z On the health sector, the minister said 10.50 lakh people have been treated in ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ in the state so far.

z Cheema said 26,797 jobs have been given so far by the Bhagwant Mann government.

z Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Punjab to be `6.98 crore for FY23/24.

z A total of `13,888 crore has been allocated for agriculture and allied sector, up by 20 per cent.

z For Sports, Cheema proposed an allocation of `258 crore which is 55% more than FY 2022-23, he claimed.

z For Education, Cheema proposed an outlay of `17,072 crore for school and higher education, which is 12% higher than the previous year. `20 crore have been allocated for latest training of school principals in the budget. z A budgetary provision of `4,781 crore has been allocated for health and family welfare in FY 2023-24 which is 11% higher than the previous year 2022-23(RE).